Eden Prairie is set to come together at Grace Church this Wednesday to pay its respects to fallen Burnsville heroes, Officers Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, and Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth. Announced for an 11 a.m. service, the community will be able to join in person or virtually attend via live stream on the Grace Church YouTube channel and through local media coverage.
The ceremony is expected to draw an extensive crowd of first responders, as they gather to honor their colleagues. The memorial will fittingly conclude with a last-call ceremony, a solemn salute with firearms, a ceremonial flyover, and a majestic procession of thousands of emergency response vehicles. To ensure to properly accommodate the sizable turnout, road closures, and traffic re-routing will be in full effect around the church from about 9 a.m. until as late as 4 p.m.
Travel within the vicinity of Grace Church will likely be disrupted, with road closures planned throughout the day along Pioneer Trail and surrounding areas. Commuters should expect delays and are advised to seek alternate routes. To assist with the flow of traffic and the anticipated congestion, detailed information on road closures has been released and can be found on the official Eden Prairie website.
Educational routines are set to also be altered. Bus routes for southern Eden Prairie's schools have been modified to navigate around the expected roadblocks. Eden Prairie Schools has taken the initiative to directly contact parents of students who are to be affected, ensuring that they are well-informed and can to make the necessary arrangements for their children's transit to and from school.
The community's support for the families does not end with the memorial service. For those wishing to provide financial assistance to the bereaved, contributions are encouraged to be made to Law Enforcement Labor Services. Additionally, those looking to offer non-monetary support can bring donations to the Prince of Peace Church Mission Outpost Donation Center, and for further details on acceptable items, one can visit their website.
